Airfare Sale! Spend 12/12/12 and December 21, 2012 with the Maya in Mexico, Belize, or Guatemala

Spirit Airlines is offering what seems to be the best airfare to celebrate Baktun 14 with the Maya themselves. Witness and learn about the famous calendar from the people as a new beginning awaits in the foretold golden age of humanity!

These quotes are leaving on December 11 and returning December 24 for Christmas. Rates are round-trip to Cancun and include tax. Bag fees are excessive for Spirit as a means to keep fares low. Make sure to pre-book your bag when buying your ticket online ($20US online vs $45USD at the gate!) And the bag weights are to 40 lbs not the standard 50 with a harsh $25-50 USD fee for overweight items.

Maya vs. Mayan sign at Best Western Palenque Hotel

It is possible to take direct, over-night bus service via ADO from Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum to Belize City as we wrote about here. (Roughly $40USD each way)

Cancun Bus Terminal

ADO Bus from Cancun Terminal direct to Belize City

From Belize City it is an easy bus ride to Unitedville ($3 US) in order to reach the Maya site of Lower Dover.

Bus in Belize.

Entering Plaza A at the Lower Dover Maya Ceremonial Center

Back of the Acropolis at Lower Dover Jungle Lodge in Belize

Lower Dover is Located only 1/2 Mile from Mile 59 on the Western Highway

Fare Rates to CANCUN R/T WITH TAXES!

$186: Atlanta

$197: Dallas

$205: Baltimore

$212: SF/Oakland, Los Angeles, Chicago, Denver, Phoenix, Minneapolis

$242: New York (LGA)

$252: Boston, Detroit

Book here… www.spirit.com

Maya Full Moon Ceremony at Lower Dover Belize Jungle Lodge

On June 6, 2012 the transit of Venus was celebrated at Lower Dover Jungle Lodge in Belize, with the aid of Maya spiritual guide Don Beto Cocum. The transit is when the planet Venus appeared as a small, dark disk moving across the face of the Sun.  Transits of Venus are among the rarest of predictable celestial phenomena and occur in pairs, eight years apart, which are themselves separated by more than a century: The previous transit of Venus took place on 8 June 2004 (preceded by a pair of appearances December 9, 1874 and December 6, 1882), and the next transit will occur December 10/11, 2117. So if you missed it this year you have to wait another 105 years! 

It was a special moment for a number of reasons. First, the actual ceremony preformed by local Maya Yucatec decedent and spiritual guide, Don Beto Cocum, was also celebrating the full moon which took place immediately before the transit. Because the two dates coincided, we decided to go forth and celebrate both.

Also this was the first time Lower Dover formally asked permission, in the spiritual realm from the Maya gods, to disturb the ancient Maya’s rest. Since archaeology is dealing with the deceased, Lower Dover requested for the God’s favor in the excavations that were on going from the start of 2010. Perhaps this lack of acknowledgement was why so little progress had been made during the first two years.  I believe the Maya spirits gave us a sign at the end of the dig season…more soon!!!

Don Beto Cocum, a Maya spiritualist second, and a true bush healer first, was very encouraged by the positive energy he felt at Lower Dover. Good news in a world void of much these days. He assured us the Maya spirits were in our favor and offered us no obstruction.

Unfortunately Mr. Don Beto passed away unexpectedly of natural causes, shortly after this event. Those in the Belize Maya community lost a very knowledgeable and well respected member. All of us at Lower Dover were definitely touched by his presence and grace in handling his craft and we will forever remember him for his kindness, patience, and for dedicating his life to keep the Maya culture alive today.

Fortunately we were able to get some of these photos for everyone to see how a Maya shaman sets up his full moon ceremony. Don Beto asked us not to film during his prayer session. At the closing of the ceremony he did individual blessings which we were able to capture. Rest in peace Mr. Don Beto Cocum and thanks for your help in Belize and at Lower Dover Jungle Lodge. 

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Archaeology at Lower Dover Belize Jungle Lodge (Videos)

These are some quick videos of the archaeological work done by students during the 2010 dig at the newly identified Maya settlement of Lower Dover.

 

Newly Identified Maya Site in Belize – Lower Dover (Video)

We have been a little lazy on the blog lately. That’s about to change with the summer archaeology dig season at Lower Dover Field Station & Jungle Lodge starting at the end of this month. Expect full updates and lots of pictures. Maybe even a couple of Maya vids!

To get you primed, here is a video shot two years ago while walking in the jungle area of our property adjacent to the lodge. As you will also notice, the ruins extend throughout the property even to the lodge area where the library sits.

Belize Day Tours: Tikal National Park

One of the main Maya temples at Tikal.

The ancient Maya city of Tikal is one of the great attractions on the Maya Trail. The Mayan Trail stretches from the Yucatan in Mexico, into Guatemala, and all throughout Belize.  It is a common stop for backpackers looking to see the best of the Mayan heartland. If you can only see one Maya site, Tikal National Park is our top pick for Maya travel destination in 2012.

Mayan Temple at Tikal National Park.

Tikal National Park in Guatemala.

Map of Tikal National Park

Located within the Peten Maya Biosphere Reserve, which covers a huge portion of Northern Guatemala, Tikal is one of many archaeology sites in the area. It was once a great capital city during Classic Maya times. It remained extremely important until neighboring capital Caracol conquered the city in 556 AD. A 130 year hiatus of building ensued. Only after Tikal conquered Caracol’s closest ally, Calakmul, in 695 AD did Tikal regain it’s significance in the Maya world. It was after this time that the 5 largest Maya temples were built. Great Mayan monuments continued to be built until 869 AD, the last recorded date on Stela 24 at Tikal.

Tikal Stele.

Tikal Stelae in Guatemala.

Tikal Stelae

Amazingly, it is possible to climb to the top of these Mayan temples, though it requires using narrow ladders built along the side of the structures. It’s much easier up than down!

Another Mayan temple at Tikal National Park.

Stairs at Tikal National Park

The stairs at Tikal National Park

Watch your step! The long walk down at Tikal.

The temples stretch above the jungle canopy making for breathtaking views. In fact, the view was so perfect that George Lucas used it in the making of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. The shot where a Rebel oversees the Millennium Falcon landing on Yavin was taken on top of a building known as Temple IV looking east where Temple I, II and III can be seen on film.

The view at Tikal as seen in Star Wars IV: A New Hope.

Another amazing view at Tikal.

Tikal sits within a vast nature reserve, and wildlife sightings are very common. Expect to have photo opportunities of Howler Monkeys, Spider Monkeys, Quash, and many different birds. Make sure you don’t hit any driving in!

Snake at Tikal National Park.

Quash aka Coatimundi at Tikal National Park

Tikal is a common travel destination for people vacationing in Belize. It’s close proximity ( about 2 hours) from San Ignacio in Western Belize, makes it a great day trip while in Belize. Tomorrow we will do a story on getting to Tikal from Lower Dover Jungle Lodge in Western Belize by organized tour, public transit, or rented vehicle.

Maya Temple at Tikal National Park.

Tikal National Park Guatemala.